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GIVERS AMONG US

Two sisters work on behalf of sick Haitian children

jcharles@MiamiHerald.com

Their most famous rescue is today a vibrant 17-year-old who looks past her disfiguration to see a bright future.

Twin sisters Ginette and Gina have devoted their lives to helping children in their Haitian homeland receive life-saving medical help. That they were able to help Marlie Casseus -- a teen who arrived in Miami from Haiti three years ago with a melon-size mass that nearly killed her -- is testimony to their strong Catholic faith.

``When we see Marlie, the very first thing we see is that she was a testimony that God wanted to show the world,'' said Ginette Eugene. ``Marlie was not supposed to be alive, and we just feel blessed that we were the ones chosen to take care of her.''

Last year, the Eugene sisters' efforts were recognized when they were selected by Pope Benedict XVI to be among 48 people receiving special papal honors at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Miami.

The sisters hold deep religious beliefs and repeatedly credit God for not just guiding them to the children in need, but enabling them to find the funds needed to fly kids to South Florida and pay for their medical care.

``It's still a battle,'' Ginette says about finding money for their cause. ``We refuse to take grants because we are not structured for that. We depend on people's charity -- friends and people on the streets who stop us to give us something.''

Ginette Eugene jokes that neither she nor Gina know how to use e-mail or a computer properly.

``We are blind when it comes to modern times. But God is always there to guide us. We just pray everyday and we know it will all be fine,'' she said.

Recently, the sisters rescued a 2-year-old boy whose legs were not properly formed and had to be amputated.

As for Marlie, she and her mother recently returned to Haiti after undergoing further treatment for the 16-pound mass that nearly choked and blinded her. Once unable to speak, she is a chatterbox who enjoys dancing, and talks about being married and having children of her own one day. Her transformation, called A New Face for Marlie, was recorded for Discovery Health.

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